Ministers unaware of plans for talks with LTTE

COLOMBO, DEC. 15. Several Sri Lankan Ministers have taken objection to being kept in the dark over the latest government initiatives to enter Norwegian-backed peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, media reports here said today.

The Junior Defence Minister, Mr. Anuruddha Ratwatte, raised the issue in a meeting held after the Foreign Minister, Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, on Tuesday announced the decision to open unconditional negotiations with the Tigers before discussing it in the Cabinet, the Island newspaper said. Another privately- owned newspaper, the Daily Mirror, said Mr. Ratwatte was backed by several Cabinet colleagues.

The Mirror said Mr. Ratwatte challenged the Prime Minister, Mr. Ratnasiri Wickremanayake, to deny that he was also unaware of the peace moves until the media carried reports of the plans announced by the Foreign Minister.

However, press reports said Mr. Wickremanayake upbraided Mr. Ratwatte pointing out that it was the President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga's prerogative to take the peace initiative in the manner she wished to. Ms. Kumaratunga is currently in Europe.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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